Innovation Centre Leaders:
Marco Marra, Robert Holt, Steven Jones

Website:       
Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre

The Genomics "Innovation Centre" based at Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Agency (GSC) provides the tools and expertise to analyze genomes in various ways. As the largest capacity genomics centre of its type in Canada, the GSC specializes in high-throughput, large-scale genome research activities encompassing cancer genetics, bioinformatics, LIMS, DNA sequencing, data analysis, genome mapping, gene expression profiling, proteomics and technology development. Major funding for this platform is provided by Genome Canada.

The facility was designed specifically for flexibility and high throughput with a particular emphasis on efficiency and rapid scale-up. Research is carried out on the latest instrumentation, such as Illumina Genome Analyzers, with data collected and analyzed on one of the most innovative and flexible bioinformatics computing facilities in the world.

The Genomics Innovation Centre is staffed by teams of professional scientists with expertise in several areas of genomics research. These teams support researchers and collaborators in BC and around the world in work addressing topical questions in the life sciences, including Genome Canada projects in the diverse fields of health, environment and agriculture.

The GSC has produced many important platform-related scientific achievements, including the sequencing of the SARS virus (2003) and consequently, GSC scientists are authors on some of the most heavily cited manuscripts in the biomedical field. The Genomics Innovation Centre offers world class services that provide the science and leading edge technology enabling Canadian researchers to compete on the international stage.